Thursday 29 July 2021

• 

• 

• 

The winners of the poster contest have been selected! Read more: https://koronaturvallinenlappi.fi/julistekilpailu/

The translated version of the coronavirus review for Lapland is published once a week.
Everyone staying in Lapland must take a coronavirus test even with the slightest of symptoms that are related to the coronavirus.

Links about the current situation:

Official instructions from Lapland to travellers who suspect they may have caught the coronavirus

THL: Travel and the coronavirus pandemic

Additional guidelines, current recommendations, and restrictions for hospital districts

THL: Progress with COVID-19 vaccinations

Lapland Hospital District

The Lapland Hospital District is in the baseline phase of the epidemic.

The incidence rate based on the last two weeks (12–25 July) is 61.6 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rate based on one week (19–25 July) is 35.1 per 100,000 inhabitants.

This incidence rate also includes cases of patients who live outside the Lapland Hospital District area. For this reason, the figure can differ from that announced by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) that does not count those living outside of Lapland.  

Even if you experience the mildest of symptoms, you must immediately take a coronavirus test – there have been mass exposures recently due to indifference

12 new coronavirus infections have been confirmed since the previous review. Six of these were reported in Rovaniemi, two of which have been reported with people already in quarantine. One person received the infection from a location outside the district and the origins of the other infections are still being clarified. Four infections were reported in Kittilä, three of which are associated with the Koivukoti residential and nursing home chain of infection, and investigations into the origin of one infection is still ongoing. One infection was recorded in Posio with a person who is not a local resident and in Muonio an infection was confirmed with a local person who was already in quarantine.

There have recently been a number of situations where people have experienced symptoms related to the coronavirus, but instead of seeking a coronavirus test, socialising with other people has taken place. These situations have resulted in mass exposures. The Lapland Hospital District’s Infection Control Unit would like to emphasise that even when experiencing the mildest of symptoms, other people must not be met, rather a coronavirus test must be taken and the person with the symptoms must remain at home until the coronavirus test result is received.

The Lapland Hospital District’s Infection Control Unit recommends that participants in public gatherings, such as festivals, take a coronavirus test about a day before taking part in the event itself. The Infection Control Unit considers that this practice is a very advantageous way of combating the epidemic and stresses that it should be available free of charge to the general public.

Exposure to the coronavirus may have occurred at the following locations

• On the night between Friday 23 July and Saturday 24 July, at the Valdemari restaurant in Rovaniemi, between the times of 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
• At the RoPS vs ONS football match in Rovaniemi on Saturday 24 July between the times of 5–7 p.m. (during the game)
• At the Roy Club nightclub in Rovaniemi on Saturday 24 July between the times of 2–4 a.m.
• At the K-Supermarket in Kittilä on Sunday 25 July between the times of 12 noon – 1 p.m.
• At the Masku, Asko, Jysk and Isku furniture stores in Rovaniemi on Monday 26 July between the times of 2–4 p.m.
• At the Pizza & Buffa restaurant in Rovaniemi on Monday 26 July between the times of 4–5 p.m. 
• At the Veken Kaluste and Kaluste Varrio/Kodin Terra furniture stores in Rovaniemi on Monday 26 July between the times of 5–6 p.m.

Rovaniemi will provide vaccinations this coming weekend without the need for making appointment – the first vaccination dose will be given at the Town Hall

Information bulletin. Published on: 29 July 2021 at 4:30 p.m.
City of Rovaniemi

The people of Rovaniemi will be able to receive the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine this weekend from the Town Hall vaccination station, without having to make an appointment.

“As the epidemic situation has rapidly deteriorated globally and in order to prevent the spread of the highly contagious delta variant of the virus, we encourage all people in Rovaniemi who have not yet received their first dose of the vaccine to take it. We want to make vaccination as easy as possible, so we decided to open a Town Hall vaccination station that will also be open over the weekend”, says Ulla-Kirsikka Vainio, Mayor of the City of Rovaniemi.

This coming weekend, in the Town Hall the first coronavirus vaccination dose will be made available for all people aged 16 and over.

“This is also about the realisation and safety of future events. The higher the vaccine coverage, the better it safeguards society and makes it possible for opening up society. With this flexible opportunity to receive the vaccine at the weekend without making an appointment, we hope to reach particularly young people who are not yet vaccinated – of course, all those seeking their first dose of the vaccine are welcome”, says Markku Broas, Chief Physician specialising in infectious diseases at the Lapland Hospital District.

Vainio and Broas are both involved in organising vaccinations at the Town Hall this weekend.

Appointments must still be made for receiving the booster vaccine, i.e. the second dose of the coronavirus vaccine. The appointment system can also still be used for booking an appointment for the first dose of the vaccine.

The Town Hall vaccination station is open on Saturday 31 July and Sunday 1 August from 12 noon to 4 p.m.

• The first dose of the vaccine is made available for all persons aged 16 years or over.
• When arriving to receive the vaccine, please bring along an ID card or a Kela card as proof of identity. After being given the vaccine, be prepared to stay for at least a 15-minute observation period.
• It is only possible to receive the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine at the weekend, not the booster dose of the vaccine. When arriving to receive the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, you will be given an appointment for receiving the booster dose of the vaccine.
• When arriving for receiving the vaccine, please remember to observe safe distancing recommendations, use a face mask, and follow other hygiene and safety instructions.
• You will not be given the vaccine if you have symptoms.

Further information available from:
Ulla-Kirsikka Vainio, Mayor of the City of Rovaniemi, ulla-kirkka.vainio[at]rovaniemi.fi, tel. 040 625 6535
Markku Broas, Chief Physician specialising in infectious diseases at the Lapland Hospital District, markku.broas[at]lshp.fi, tel. 050 347 2387

Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District by week

Week no. 28 (12–18 July): 32 cases

Week no. 29 (19–25 July): 41 cases

Week no. 30 (current week): 20 cases (as of 29 July at 15:46)

The total number of cases confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 945. This figure also includes persons living outside the area.

Infection Control Unit

***

Länsi-Pohja Hospital District

The Länsi-Pohja Hospital District is now in the baseline phase of the epidemic.

Possible exposure to the coronavirus in the Kukko restaurant and Corner Inn in Kemi last weekend during the night between Saturday and Sunday

Two new cases of the coronavirus have been reported in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District since yesterday. One of these cases was reported in border testing from a person travelling in transit.

This week’s case tracking has shown that exposure to the coronavirus may have occurred at the Kukko restaurant or Corner Inn in Kemi on the night between Saturday 24 July and Sunday 25 July after midnight. It is highly recommended for any persons present at these establishment at the times mentioned to take a coronavirus test, if any symptoms occur.

A negative coronavirus with asymptomatic people has caused several misunderstandings

In connection with infection tracing tasks, recently there have been a number of misunderstandings in relation to the coronavirus test taken by asymptomatic people.

A negative test result may change to become positive already on the following next day. If you have taken a coronavirus test and received a negative result but you get infection symptoms during the days after the test, you should take a new coronavirus test immediately.

While waiting for the test, you should avoid all human contact and stay in self-imposed quarantine.

This recommendation appears to have now been forgotten and people experiencing symptoms seem to think that flu symptoms cannot be the coronavirus after the test has been negative just a few days earlier.

However, the previous negative test has no significance or predictive value, so if you are sick and have symptoms after a negative test, you MUST ALWAYS take another coronavirus test.

Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District by week

Week no. 28 (12–18 July): Six (6) cases

Week no. 29 (19–25 July): 25 cases

Week no. 30 (current week): 6 cases (as of 29 July at 13:36)

The total number of cases confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 776.

Infection Control Unit